Compassion through Asceticism: Contemplating the Caveats and Socio-Environmental Values Related to a Backcountry Fast
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2021-V13-I4-10722Keywords:
moral education, outdoor education, social justice, environmental justice, asceticismAbstract
Given the socio-environmental crises we face, educators might advisably look for means to address them. Within US outdoor adventure education (OAE), the moral educational potential of the “backcountry fast” is one such curricular area. However, little is written on this field-based tradition. This absence is concerning since fasts raise questions of risk and social-ethical appropriateness (e.g. food-scarcity). After acknowledging these social-ethical caveats, this paper, which draws from philosophical and monastic sources, provides a moral rationale for the backcountry fast. An act of asceticism, fasting practices can cultivate discipline, promote self-revelation, and awaken empathetic compassion (a-suffering-with) through identification with the involuntary suffering of others (human, more-than-human, and the planet itself). Although fasting’s full value is realized in a justice-seeking practice, highlighting the limits of one-off OAE programming, the article affirms its continued use within OAE, and counsels that fasts be educationally framed regarding their purpose(s) and potential as a post-program discipline.
References
Aurelius, M. (1964). (M. Staniforth, Trans.). Penguin.
Austin, J., Funnell, A., Hirsch, J., Lindsey, M., Nordquist, J., Pace, S., & Wold, P. (Eds.). (2018). Manual of accreditation standards for adventure programs (5th ed.). Association for Experiential Education.
Blackburn, S. (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780198735304.001.0001
Bobilya, A., MacAvoy, L., & Kalisch, K. (2005). Lessons from the field: Participant perceptions of a multi-day wilderness solo. In C. Knapp & T. Smith (Eds.), Exploring the Power of Solo, Silence, and Solitude (pp. 103-119). Association of Experiential Education.
Breunig, M. (2019). Beings who are becoming: Enhancing social justice literacy. Journal of Experiential Education, 42(1), 7-21. ttps://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/1053825918820694
Calhoun, A. (2005). Spiritual disciplines handbook. InterVarsity Press.
Casey, M. (2005). Strangers to the city: Reflections on the beliefs and values of The Rule of Saint Benedict. Paraclete Press.
Chittister, J. (1991). Wisdom distilled from the daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict today. Harper Collins.
Chittister, J. (2010). The rule of Benedict: A spirituality for the 21st century (2nd ed.). Crossroad Publishing Company.
Collins, L., & Collins, D. (2019). The role of ‘pracademics’ in education and development of adventure sport professionals. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 19(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2018.1483253
Costache, D. (2020). Asceticism, Well-Being, and Compassion in Maximus the Confessor. In P. Bolt & J. Harrison (Eds.), Justice, Mercy, and Well-Being: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (pp. 134-147). Pickwick Publishers.
Daniel, B. (2005). The life significance of a wilderness solo experience. In C. Knapp & T. Smith (Eds.), Exploring the Power of Solo, Silence, and Solitude (pp. 85-102). Association of Experiential Education.
Daniel, B., Bobilya, A., Kalisch, K., & Lindley, B. (2010). Lessons from the Outward Bound solo: Intended transfer of learning. Journal Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 2(1), 37-58. https://doi.org/10.7768/1948-5123.1032
Epictetus. (1890). The works of Epictetus: His discourses, in four books, the enchiridion, and fragments (T. W. Higginson, Trans.). Thomas Nelson and Sons.
FAO. 2019. The State of Food and Agriculture 2019. Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction. Rome. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
Fischer, K. (1979). Asceticism and compassion. American Benedictine Review, 30(4), 333-342.
Foster, R. J. (1998). Celebration of discipline: The path to spiritual growth (20th Anniversary ed.). Harper.
Gaikwad, S. (2017). Apprehending concept, canons and types of fasting in Buddhism. Journal of Innovative Research and Creative Technology, 2(4), 164-168.
Gandhi, M. K. (1924). Two scenes. Young India, 6(44), 357-358.
Gookin, J. (2006). NOLS wilderness educator notebook (10th Field ed.). NOLS.
Gottlieb, R., & Joshi, A. (2010). Food justice. MIT Press.
Hadot, P. (1998). The inner citadel: The meditations of Marcus Aurelius (M. Chase, Trans.). Harvard University Press.
Hahn, K. (1965). Address at the founding day ceremony of the Athenian school. Retrieved March 11th, 2008 from http://kurthahn.org/writings/athens.pdf
Hoffman, M. (2000). Empathy and moral development: Implications for caring and justice. Cambridge University Press.
Howley Ryan, M. (2008). NOLS backcountry nutrition: Eating beyond the basics. Stackpole Books.
Hossain, M. (2012). Fasting in Islam: Its excellence, benefits and use for sustainable development of the society. Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences, 3(3), 184-190.
Irvine, W. (2009). A guide to the good life: The ancient art of Stoic joy. Oxford University Press.
Knapp, C., & Smith, T. E. (Eds.). (2005). Exploring the Power of Solo, Silence, and Solitude. Association of Experiential Education.
McKenzie, M., & Blenkinsop, S. (2006). An ethic of care and educational practice. Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning, 6(2), 91-105. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/14729670685200781
Merton, T. (1983). No man is an island. Harcourt Brace & Co.
Miner, J. L., & Boldt, J. R. (2002). Outward Bound USA: Crew not passengers (2nd ed.). Mountaineers Books.
Moore, J., & Fung, J. (2016). The complete guide to fasting: Heal your body through intermittent, alternate-day, and extended fasting. Simon and Schuster.
Noddings, N. (2005). The challenge to care in schools: An alternative approach to education (2nd ed.). Teachers College Press.
Ransome, W. (2010). Is agent-based virtue ethics self-undermining? Ethical Perspectives, 17(1), 41-57. https://doi.org/10.2143/ep.17.1.2046956
Sbicca, J. (2018). Food justice now! Deepening the roots of social struggle. University of Minnesota Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5749/j.ctv3dnnrt
Slote, M. (2001). Morals from motives. Oxford University Press.
Slote, M. (2007). The ethics of care and empathy. Routledge.
Slote, M. (2010a). Moral sentimentalism. Oxford University Press.
Slote, M. (2010). Sentimentalist moral education. Theory and Research in Education Theory and Research in Education, 8(2), 125-143. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203116555-8
St. Benedict. (1980). The Rule of St. Benedict in English (T. Fry, Trans.). Liturgical Press.
Stonehouse, P. (2013). Risk Managing a Wilderness Fast: Why, When and How to Facilitate a Fast in the Backcountry. Proceedings of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference, Grand Teton National Park, WY. https://www.nols.edu/media/filer_public/b2/d2/b2d215cd-5f69-4d88-8f08-fff928de711b/managing_a_backcountry_fast_notes.pdf
Stonehouse, P. (2016). Seeking virtue in the wilderness: expeditions as traveling monasteries. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 8(2), 165-179.
Straker, J., Potter, T., & Irwin, D. (2017). Untrodden paths: A critical conversation about wilder places in outdoor education. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 22, 97-114.
Tello, M. (Feb. 20, 2020). Intermittent fasting: Surprising Update. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/intermittent-fasting-surprising-update-2018062914156
Templin, G. A. & Baldwin, P. W. (1976). The evolution and adaptation of Outward Bound, 1920-1976. Outward Bound, USA.
Thoreau, H. D. (1910). Walden. Thomas Y. Crowell & Company.
Throop, W. (2016). Flourishing in the age of climate change: Finding the heart of sustainability. Midwest Studies In Philosophy, 40(1), 296-314. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/misp.12062
Van Zyl, L. (2011). Rightness and goodness in agent-based virtue ethics. Journal of Philosophical Research, 36, 103-114. https://doi.org/10.5840/jpr_2011_3
Ware, K. (1995). The orthodox way. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press.
Warren, K., Roberts, N. S., Breunig, M., & Alvarez, M. A. T. G. (2014). Social justice in outdoor experiential education: A state of knowledge review. Journal of Experiential Education, 37(1), 89-103. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/1053825913518898
Wilderness Quest (n.d.) Why a Wilderness Quest? Retrieved on May 14, 2020, from https://wildernessquest.org/why-a-wilderness-quest/
Willard, D. (1991). The spirit of the disciplines: Understanding how God changes lives. Harper & Row.
Wilson-Hartgrove, J. (2012). The Awakening of Hope. Zondervan.
Wimmer, J. (1982). Fasting in the New Testament. Paulist Press.
Whitney, D. S. (2014). Spiritual disciplines for the Christian life. Tyndale House.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Sagamore Publishing LLC (hereinafter the “Copyright Owner”)
Journal Publishing Copyright Agreement for Authors
PLEASE REVIEW OUR POLICIES AND THE PUBLISHING AGREEMENT, AND INDICATE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS BY CHECKING THE ‘AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS COPYRIGHT NOTICE’ CHECKBOX BELOW.
I understand that by submitting an article to Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, I am granting the copyright to the article submitted for consideration for publication in Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership to the Copyright Owner. If after consideration of the Editor of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, the article is not accepted for publication, all copyright covered under this agreement will be automatically returned to the Author(s).
THE PUBLISHING AGREEMENT
Assignment of Copyright
I hereby assign to the Copyright Owner the copyright in the manuscript I am submitting in this online procedure and any tables, illustrations or other material submitted for publication as part of the manuscript in all forms and media (whether now known or later developed), throughout the world, in all languages, for the full term of copyright, effective when the article is accepted for publication.
Reversion of Rights
Articles may sometimes be accepted for publication but later be rejected in the publication process, even in some cases after public posting in “Articles in Press” form, in which case all rights will revert to the Author.
Retention of Rights for Scholarly Purposes
I understand that I retain or am hereby granted the Retained Rights. The Retained Rights include the right to use the Preprint, Accepted Manuscript, and the Published Journal Article for Personal Use and Internal Institutional Use.
All journal material is under a 12 month embargo. Authors who would like to have their articles available as open access should contact Sagamore-Venture for further information.
In the case of the Accepted Manuscript and the Published Journal Article, the Retained Rights exclude Commercial Use, other than use by the author in a subsequent compilation of the author’s works or to extend the Article to book length form or re-use by the author of portions or excerpts in other works.
Published Journal Article: the author may share a link to the formal publication through the relevant DOI.
Author Representations
- The Article I have submitted to the journal for review is original, has been written by the stated author(s) and has not been published elsewhere.
- The Article was not submitted for review to another journal while under review by this journal and will not be submitted to any other journal.
- The Article contains no libelous or other unlawful statements and does not contain any materials that violate any personal or proprietary rights of any other person or entity.
- I have obtained written permission from copyright owners for any excerpts from copyrighted works that are included and have credited the sources in the Article.
- If the Article was prepared jointly with other authors, I have informed the co-author(s) of the terms of this Journal Publishing Agreement and that I am signing on their behalf as their agent, and I am authorized to do so.